Travis

Travis formed in Glasgow in 1990, Fran Healy's warm, melodic songwriting giving the band a quality that was immediately distinctive. They signed to Independiente and released their debut 'Good Feeling' (1997) — a more rock-oriented record that showed the band's range but didn't fully reveal what they were capable of.

'The Man Who' (1999) was the breakthrough — one of the best-selling British albums of the year. 'Why Does It Always Rain on Me?', 'Writing to Reach You', 'Driftwood', 'Turn' — the singles were melodic, emotionally direct, and possessed of a warmth that felt genuinely comforting. The album reached number one and stayed in the charts for over a year.

'The Invisible Band' (2001) was another number one — 'Sing' became one of the most-played songs of the year. Travis were briefly the biggest band in Britain. The albums that followed were less commercially successful but maintained the quality of Healy's songwriting. Their live shows remain among the most enjoyable on the circuit — warm, generous, and full of songs that feel like old friends.